McLaren acting CEO Jonathan Neale: "It is very changeable this afternoon, there is an apparent window here but plenty of weather still to come.

"Our drivers are finding it difficult to find anywhere on the circuit where there is a clear line. We might get some racing but we will lose the light at 05:30 local time anyway."

Becca Chaplin:, external Keeping an eye on #Kimi. How long before he goes off to eat a icecream?

Safety car driver Bernd Maylander is ready and waiting. Will he be the only man to lead the Japanese Grand Prix today?

The FIA's head of communications has told BBC Radio 5 live pit lane reporter Jennie Gow that the governing body suggested several times to organisers that the race should have started earlier.

There's a meeting of the big cheeses on the pit wall as Mercedes co-team boss Toto Wolff has a chinwag with McLaren racing director Eric Boullier and Red Bull chief Christian Horner.

Fernando Alonso is back in the car, six minutes before the restart. Adrian Sutil isn't in any rush, though, as he's still by the pit wall without his helmet on.

It looks like our weatherman Ian Fergusson was right as the rain continues to ease ahead of the restart. There are still rivers flowing across some parts of the track, so conditions remain very tricky.

Jennie Gow
BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter

"I've gone out of the back of the garage and it's not raining any more."

Declan Harris:, external I know there's a safety element to this but they get paid enough so just let them go racing!

Dan Phelps:, external Seems a bit daft to do a least 2 laps to ensure half points and the red flag the race. Why not just delay it from the start??

Dan Palmer:, external I regret my decision to choose getting up for this rather than have a proper night of sleep.

Lotus' Romain Grosjean on 5 live: "It was undriveable out there."

The rain has eased, but the restart will still be behind the safety car.

No soon have drivers removed their ear plugs and helmets than they have to get ready again as race control announces that the race will restart at 07:25 BST.

Most drivers have headed for shelter in their garage. Nico Rosberg is informed that he will get at least 10 minutes warning of a race restart.

Massive respect for the fans, who are braving the conditions with smiles on their faces.

Lotus:, external If you're watching this at home, great time to go for a cuppa. Milk, no sugar please.

David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator

"I'm a bit frustrated because we knew a storm was coming at this time."

If we don't restart, half points will be awarded. As a result, Nico Rosberg will lead the championship by 0.5 points going to Russia next weekend.

The safety car leads the field into the pit lane, where they line up in formation before switching their engines off. Their mechanics dash over to put the tyre blankets on before popping up their garden gazebos.

The race has been stopped. The weather is, quite frankly, appalling so the stoppage is not a surprise.

Nico Rosberg's race engineer: "Lewis is saying the conditions are so poor he cannot see you."